Snow-disposal device



. V. CROUSE.

.SNOW DISPOSAL DEVICE.'

' APPLICATION FILED luLYzs. 1919.

1,418,680.- 'PatentedJune 6,' 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

n o o a e o Inven Edu/151260Z @Q01/fe E. v. caous'E.

SNOW DISPOSAL DEVICE. VAPPLICATION,FILED JULY28, |919.l

Patented June .6, 1922.

2 SHEETS-sain 2.

UNTED snow-DISPOSAL DEVICE.

Application flied Juiy as, 19'19. serial No. 313,857.

.removing snow and ice from thoroughfaresor streets. n p l* A further object is to provide apparatus having .af large capacity but occupying a minimum amount of space, anda device so constructed and arranged that there will bev no liability of clogging from the too rapid feeding of the snow thereto.

With theseand other objects in `viewmy.

invention is embodied in a device preferably mounted on a wheeled truck and made portable, and having a fire box, preferably'insulated, provided with means for creatingA anintense heat, andalso having means forf separating the lire boX from the hopper into which the snow is shoveled. y

lIn the accompanyingdrawings I have illustrated two embodiments of my invention, and in these drawings- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation;

Fig. l shows a side elevation of a modilied form of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. el, and

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the modified form shown in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the improved appaifa'tus is shown as mounted upon an auto-y mobile truck` having the usual frame' 10,5 wheels 11, hood 12, steeringwheel 13 and.

a cab '14. Upon the rear of the truck frame I have mounted a box-like receptacle 15,

preferably formed fof sheet metal, and havingra lining upon its four verticalwalls of insulating material such as firebrick 16 interposed between the outer wall and inner wall 17, also preferably formed of sheet` metal. The chamber formed by Vthe inner walls 17 is provided with an inclined bottii 18 which slopes from the outer walls order to to the center of the chamber. VIf desired, the inner wall 17 may be dispensed with, the firebrick serving as a wall or lining'. This chamber will be termed the kcombustin chamber, and in order to create an intense heat in this chamber I have provided oil burners or torchesI 19 which operate under a' forced draft in the well-known manner.

In v,the embodiment of my invention illustrated inFigs.v 1 to 3, I have shown' four of Ythese torches, two being provided enV each side of the combustion chamber. The. torches 19 enter Vthe chamber at an angle as; clearly illustrated in Fig'. 2, thereby directing the'ilame toward tlie'rear of the receptacle, the l'lamesor'blasts from the oppsitely located torches being directed to a common 'ras 'Parent carica.

specification olf Lettersratent. Patented June 6, 19.22.I l

point in substantially the center of the' cornbustion chamber. The torches are located below; the topv of the combustion chamberV andthe heat generated thereby rises, therebyv causing the' temperature of a series of perforated iron bars or grids 2O located above the 'combustion chamber, to beA raised to high degree. The heat also escapes through perforations,v thereby coming in' direct contactwith thesnow. These' grids 20 are supported on the walls of the combi'istion chamber'and may be readilyV removed in provide access tothe interior of the' chamber. 1 The oil for the oil burners is carried in.

. tanls'21 an'd'is conveyed by means of pipes or conduits .22 to the nozzles of the torches. The air blast for these torches is created by means of an air pump 23 which is driven by a suitable engine, or may, if desired, be' connected by suitable driving connections to the main drive shaft of the auto truck up-`r on which the apparatus is mounted. This air blastvmay also be obtained from compressed air tanks if desired. Thisair blast is conducted to the burners by means'of'- pipes '24., 25 and 26. A 1suitable valve is provided' in the oil burner `for controlling the' spreadof the blast and this valve is operated by means of a hand wheel 27 in ai manner well known in the art.

The walls of the receptacle or combustionchamber `support upwardly 'extending side 'walls 28 and end walls 29 and 30 of a hop# being thrown over onto the frame of the truck. rIhis chamber also forms a tank for the water which trickles through the gratel bars or grids 2O as the snow is melted. An outlet nozzle or tap 31 is provided for draining water and slush from the lowest point of the combustion chamber. Nozzle 31 is provided with a suitable valveand may be connected to a hose by which the water will be conducted to a sewer or drain.

The modified form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, will now be described.

The principle of operation of both forms of my improved apparatus is identical, but the operative elements are arranged in a slightly diderent manner in the two forms.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, the device is mounted upon a truck frame 32 supported by suitable wheels, and this truck maybe attached to any automobile as a trailer or may be propelled in any suitable manner. A receptacle 33 similar in construction to that already described is mounted upon the rear end of this truck frame 32, the walls of the rec-eptacle being lined with irebrick 34 or other suitable insulating material as before. In this embodiment of this invention the opening for the receptacle is at the rear, and this opening is provided with a series of vertically arranged perforated metallic grate bars or grids 35, s0 supported that they maybe readily removed if desired. These grids form thc dividing wall or partition between a hopper 36, in this instance located at the rear of the machine, and the combustion chamber formed in theV receptacle Oil burners or torches 37 similar to those already described, are located in this instance at the sides and front 'of the combustion chamber, the burners at the sides being inclined in such a manner as to direct the flame or blast rearwardly against the grids 35.

The flame from the front torch will also` bev directed rearwardly onto the grids, the burners thus creating an intense heat in order tov melt the snow shoveled into the hopper 36. The heat from the torches in addition to heating the grids passes through the perforations, thus coming into direct contact with the snow, Suitable controlling means 38 is also provided as before, for controlling the spread of the blast or flame. The oil in this instance is carried in tanks 39 and is connected by means of pipes 40 to the nozzles of the torches. The air blast in this instance is generated in an air pump 41connected by a belt 42 to an auxiliary engine 43. If desired a compressed air tank may be interposed between the pump and the torches to insure a steady supply of air or the pump may be discarded and the air be taken directly vfrom supply tanks. This blast is conducted to the nozzles of the torches by means of Vlarsneo suitable conduits or piping 44 and 45. A shield 46 is pivoted to the top of the combustion chamber or receptacle 33 and in its open position swings against a stop 47. In this position the member 46 serves as a front wall for the hopper and prevents the snow from being thrown over onto the top of the com-Y bustion chamber. A tap or outlet nozzle 48 is provided at the lowest point of the inclined sides 49 of the bottom of the combustion chamber and may be connected to a base as in the other embodiment. I The operation of the two forms of apparatus above described will now be briefly set forth. i

Referring again to Figs. 1 to 3, the truck is conveyed under its own power to the locality from which it is desired to remove the snow and ice, and the snow is shoveled into the hopper above the combustion chamber, settling on the perforated grids or bars 20. These grids have been heated to a high degrec of temperature by means of the blasts directed inwardly by the burners 19, and therefore, as the snow touches the grids it is melted and trickles through the perforations into the combustion chamber 'which also forms a tank. The flame passing through the perforations in the grids also melts the snow in the hopper. Owing to the intense heat created Vin this chamber and ralso on the iron or metallic grids, the snow is melted in a very short space of time, either before or as soon as it touches the grids.- For this reason the capacity of the machiney is greatly in-.

formed of the metallic perforated grids, theA n snow is prevented from coming into contact with the oil burners and the liabilityof cooling or putting out the iame is thereby elimi- Y nated.

By directing the blast inwardly at an angle as shown in Fig. 2, the center of the blast is substantially at the longitudinal center of the chamber, and the blasts from the opposing torches meet at the center, thereby creating the most intense heat at the longitudinal center.

It will be readily understood that the snow shovelers operating at the sides and rear of the apparatus will deposit more snow at the center than at the sides, and for this reason it is desirable to have the zone of most intense heat at the longitudinal center.

Referring now to the invention as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, the operation of this embodiment is substantially the same vas that Vhile I have in the abovespecification described two embodiments of my invention,

,it will be understood that the same is capable of many modifications and that other modifications may be employed without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as expressed by the following claims l. In a snow melting apparatus, ahopper, a combustion chamber having the side walls thereof insulated, a substantially horizontal perforated metallic partition disposed between said combustion chamber and said hopper, and means for creating an intense heat in said combustion chamber.

2. In a snow melting apparatus, a hopper, an insulated combustion chamber, a perforated metallic partition therebetween, and meansv for creating an intense heat in said combustion chamber below said perforated partition the heat being greatest at the longitudinal center of said chamber.

3. In a snow melting apparatus, a hopper, an insulated combustion chamber, a perforated partition between said hopper and said chamber, and means including forced draft torches inclined to the side walls of said chamber for creating an intense heat in said chamber.

4. In a snow melting apparatus, a hopper, a combustion chamber, a plurality of perforated metallic grids for separating the hopper from said combustion chamber, and means carried by the side walls of said combustion chamber for creating an intense heat therein, said heat passing upwardly through said perforations.

5. In a snow melting apparatus, a hopper, a combustion chamber, means including a plurality of readily detachable perforated metallic grids for separating the hopper vtense at the longitudinal center offsaid for creating ,an intense 'heatin said combustion chamber, the'heat being most in-v chamber.

6. In a snow melting apparatus, a hopper, a' combustion chamber, aperforated partip tion between'said hopper and said'chamber,

,said hopper having a metallic inner lining and being provided with insulating material betweensaid inner lining and the outer walls thereof, the bottom of said hopper being inclined downwardly from the side walls to the center and havingan outlet opening at the lower portion thereof.

7 In a snow melting apparatus, a hopper, a combustion chamber, a perforated parti-V tion therebetween, and means including a plurality of oil torches for directing a blast of flame against said perforated partition.

8. In a snow melting apparatus, a-hopper, a perforated metallic partition therebetween, the side walls vof said hopper being inclined in such a manner as to directthe snow downwardly against said partition, oil torches disposed at. the vside walls of said combustion chamber and inclined in such a y manner as to direct their flame against said partition. H Y v 9. In a snowmelti'ng apparatus, a hopper, a combustion chamber, a perforated metallic partition therebetween, and a plurality` of oil torches disposed at the sides and ront of said combustion chamber for directing their blasts against said perforated metallic partition.

v10. In a-snow melting apparatus, a hopp ture. i

EDWARD V. C'ROUSE..v 

